FAMILIES are being uprooted days before Christmas after an untimely property sale left them searching for new homes.
On November 19, tenants at a mobile home park in Florida were given 30 days to leave their properties for good.
Kelly Chapman and her husband were given 30 days to leave their homes for good after an untimely property saleCredit: WFLA
The couple’s mobile home property in Lutz, Florida, is being rehabilitated by the new owners, so they have to move out before ChristmasCredit: WFLA
They were given a letter instructing them to vacate before December 19Credit: WFLA
The news came as a shock for the low-income residents, who have been left scrambling to find somewhere just as affordable.
Thomas Hardy and his wife, Kelly Chapman, said the options were looking grim and that the stress-inducing decision utterly ruined their Christmas.
“That’s not enough time for us to be able to find a place that we could actually afford,” Chapman told NBC affiliate WFLA.
According to the letter, tenants living in the Lutz neighborhood, about 20 minutes north of Tampa, must terminate their rental agreement.
That’s because the property was sold, and the new owner wants to completely revamp the mobile homes.
Laura Spaulding, the owner of Boss Lady Property Management, represents the buyer, and she said they were shocked to see the conditions.
“Once she purchased the property we discovered a ton of deferred maintenance that was not disclosed,” Spaulding told WFLA.
“Our client had no idea the poor condition that these units were in so she felt it best to release the tenants in order for them to find a sale and comfortable place to live.”
However, Hardy and Chapman insisted they were happy in their homes, especially thanks to the liberal pet policies.
They’re struggling to find a rental that will allow their cats and fear they will have to say goodbye to their furry friends.
Breaking down, Chapman said the pets helped her “emotionally” and couldn’t imagine saying goodbye.
“It’s a bad situation,” Hardy said.
“I went today trying to find a couple of places, you know, that will take us and the pets and stuff and it’s not looking good.”
Everyone in the community received the letter and is looking for new housing.
Spaulding stressed that she is only the manager and doesn’t know when the rehabilitation will be completed.
However, she said tenants could rent their units again after the construction.
The U.S. Sun reached out to Boss Lady Property Management for any updates on the situation.
Another woman’s home was sold right out from under her over a tax issue.
However, she had proof she never missed a tax payment.
And a mom’s home was sold for only $12,000 thanks to a bill that wasn’t hers.
